The $100 MBA Show

Ready for an executive assistant?  It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener who wants an EA, but isn’t sure what to spend. An EA is our top recommendation for a first hire, and they can quickly become invaluable. …but how much should “invaluable” actually cost? Today, we’ll discuss what the options are, what the variables are, and our recommendations for finding the perfect new team member. Fr...

If you’re thinking of selling products on eBay…don’t. It seems like a good idea, from a distance. But the dangers inherent in selling on eBay far outweigh the advantages. Our intrepid host Omar would know — he had an eBay-based business once. There’s a good reason he doesn’t have one now. Today, we detail the serious downsides of eBay commerce, including some nefarious scam artistry that anyone ca...

Is entrepreneurship for you? ‘Cause it’s not for everyone. If you’re wondering whether you have what it takes to build your own business, we have an answer. Actually, our special guest, Gino Wickman, has an answer. Actually, you have the answer. But Gino has the perfect way to help you find it.  Gino Wickman has 30 years of experience building businesses, guiding other entrepreneurs, and writing b...

Got great YouTube content? A strong following? Great! But how is that supposed to help your business? Today, we discuss how to turn views into conversions. YouTube is awesome for the top of your marketing “funnel,” but all those viewers are useless if you can’t follow up. You need email addresses, not likes and shares.  Fortunately, there’s a way. Learn how a simple modification can turn every You...

What makes a sales page work? The goal is to get people to buy. So why do some pages perform better than others? Today, we’ll discuss one key element that has a bigger impact than any other.  Whether it’s your homepage, or individual product pages, there’s one thing that really conveys the value of your product. It might not be what you think, but it’s undeniably at the core of what inspires consu...

No-refund policy: good idea? Terrible idea? It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got an online course seller who wants to protect their revenue from frivolous refund requests. Will a blanket no-refund statement scare people away? Or will it just save some hard-earned cash? We’ll discuss a few options when it comes to refund policy, and why no business owner has to feel bad about protecting their investme...

We all want the best possible team. But is that a realistic goal in your first year or two? When you haven’t established a reputation yet, how can you attract the best talent?  Turns out, being new to the game is a big advantage in that department. Today, we discuss 5 things that attract great hires, and explain why new businesses are sometimes better positioned to offer them. We’ll explain what t...

Not much of a “salesperson?” That’s ok (and totally normal). Today, we’ve got a top-level expert in the Selling Arts, Penny Elliott. Penny’s raked in millions in sales over her career, and currently makes her living showing others how it’s done.  In this episode, Penny shares 3 specific strategies anyone can use to move their products and services — especially in the current business climate.  Lea...

What did we really lose when we lost our offices? Coronavirus changed everything for some companies. Not ours — our team has always been fully remote. But as other companies were forced into the WFH life, we couldn’t help but wonder… …have we been missing out on something? Our host Omar decided to find out by asking a fellow entrepreneur. He spoke with the founder and CEO of Wistia, which had to s...

Playing it safe isn’t that…safe. If you’re stuck in habitual patterns — because they’ve worked ok so far — that’s not stability. That’s stagnation. Today, we discuss how to tell if you’re too comfortable in your comfort zone. Are you trying new things? Are you innovating? If not, the competition will. Tune in, and learn how and why to experiment and look for new paths — even if you like the paths...

YouTube: if you think your business can ignore it, think again. It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener looking for some YouTips, if you will.  Because YouTube is so much more than a place to watch cat videos. It’s a social platform, an ad-revenue generating machine, and…a powerful search engine. In other words, treat YouTube like you treat its owner, Google — like it can make or break your b...

But wait, there’s more! From the company that brought you incredible stories like Finding Nemo comes another inspiring tale — how one business did things differently, and it worked. This is part 2 of our 2-part review of Ed Catmull’s Creativity, Inc. Go back and listen to Part 1, if you haven’t.  In this episode, we’ll discuss the book’s takes on planning strategies, fear, failure, and how to trul...

This book is so good, we had to review it twice. Creativity, Inc. , from the co-founder of Pixar, is packed with incredibly valuable lessons for any business leader (or anyone who wants to be one). In the first part of this 2-part review, we’ll discuss Ed Catmull’s take on team-building, cultivating creativity, creating a company culture, and leadership. The author’s take on these things will surp...

Tough times? Tight budget? Let’s make some room on that balance sheet. Today, we explain how to save money by renegotiating some of your biggest expenses. It’s an obvious strategy, but too few entrepreneurs try it. You could be paying less to suppliers, vendors, contractors, and others. So why not ask? Remember: your business is valuable to them — and there’s leverage in that. We’ll discuss the ap...

The biggest problem with paid ads? They cost money. And sometimes, they cost more than they’re worth. Today, we explore the ROI on paid ads — whether they’re on social platforms like Facebook, search engines like Google, or content spaces like YouTube. If you’re not careful, what looks like a smart move can be nothing but a money pit. Depending on the business, ads can be a major drag. Paid advert...

Podcasting: it’s a lot better with the right equipment. It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’re helping one listener choose a crucial piece of gear: the mic! We’ve been doing this for a while — this is episode 1,620 — so we’ve tried quite a few. The mic we use isn’t the most expensive one, but it does everything a podcaster needs. But more importantly, we control the space we record in.  That has a much big...

Did Prime ruin the whole shipping thing? It’s a fundamental e-commerce question. So many businesses lose money — or tighten their margins — by absorbing excessive shipping costs.  You don’t have to be one of them!  Today, we explain why shipping should actually be a revenue generator, not an expense. WIth our intrepid host Omar’s experience in e-commerce, this episode lays out the reality of shipp...

Is your business in trouble? Don’t make it worse. There are financial predators out there targeting distressed companies. Don’t let your business fall victim! If you’re in a tight spot, you have to know who to accept help from — and what to expect. Fortunately, we know an expert on all that. Domenic Aversa specializes in getting companies through tough times. Today, he’s here to tell you what the...

Few words are more powerful than “no.” But you have to know how to use that power wisely.  As your business grows, the “no’s” become more frequent, and more important. Every “yes” is a “no” to something else — which means you need to master your priorities. Today, we discuss how to be properly selective, and more discriminating in what you say “yes” to. We’ll explore the different kinds of no’s —...

Live Chat Support: it’s an incredible plus for your business. But that doesn’t mean you’re ready to offer it. Today, we discuss what you have to consider before you make a promise you can’t keep.  A lot goes into live support, and you have to make sure you can deliver. We learned this with our own SaaS company, as reliable support is great for both pleasing current customers and attracting new one...

Need money to start a business? It’s one of the first big hurdles entrepreneurs face. Going to a bank or VC is a fraught process, and it’s not guaranteed to work. But what if you have family with cash to spare?  It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener who has an idea for a mobile app — and a dad with $20k to burn. Should he ask for it? Or is there another way to build this thing? Today, we’ll...

Ready to scale? You got your business off the ground. Now, it’s time to reach for that next level.  But if you’ve never done so before, look out! Too many small businesses stumble in ways that can cost you dearly — for months or years to come. Today, we outline 3 ways you can really screw up. These are the most common ways businesses get derailed on their way up the mountain. Fortunately, the pitf...

Brick & mortar businesses must be accessible to people with different needs. But what about websites? Are you leaving people with sensory or motor disabilities out of your marketing? Making sure you’re not isn’t just ethically right, it’s smart business. So what can you do to make sure everyone is welcome on your little corner of the Internet? We have a guest teacher for that. Jeff White of Kula P...

What percentage of your expenses should cover payroll? What’s sustainable, fair, and makes sense?  Today, we discuss the factors involved. We’ll help you figure out just how big a slice your team should take out of the profit pie. The right number will vary for different types of businesses, but almost every business falls into one of two categories. And of course, you get what you invest in. Get...

Will your team tell you when you’re wrong? If the answer is no, you have a problem. Without a culture of openness and honesty, you can’t really find out where your business’s strengths and weaknesses are. You can’t make important decisions about what’s working and what’s not. Your team can’t be afraid to criticize. Today, we discuss how and why to make your business a safe space for candid feedbac...